Bulldogs fan may have to cheer for Plainsman great-grandson

SHANNA SISSOM | Managing Editor

Published 12:46 pm, Thursday, October 25, 2012

Photo: Shanna Sissom/Plainview Herald

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Lillian James, 91, has cheered the Plainview Bulldogs for decades as three sons and five grandsons have played for the family team. But tonight’s game against Lubbock Monterey might prove problematic with her loyalties, as the die-hard Bulldog fan has a great-grandson, 18-year-old Trevor Lee, who plays offense for the Plainsmen. less

Lillian James, 91, has cheered the Plainview Bulldogs for decades as three sons and five grandsons have played for the family team. But tonight’s game against Lubbock Monterey might prove problematic with her ... more

Photo: Shanna Sissom/Plainview Herald

Bulldogs fan may have to cheer for Plainsman great-grandson

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With three sons and five grandsons having played Bulldog football, 91-year-old Lillian James has cheered her boys on during every decade, beginning in the 1960s.

She’s a loyal Bulldog fan, make no mistake about it.

But tonight’s district game against the Monterey Plainsmen presents an unprecedented situation, and it’s problematic when asked whom she will root for: her Bulldogs or the Plainsmen, since her great-grandson, 18-year-old Trevor Lee plays for Monterey.

“She said she would have to go with family, she’s going to have to root for Monterey,” explained daughter Judy Evans. “It’ll be hard, but we’ve got to do it.”

But later on in that day, James was asked if she could root against the Bulldogs.

“I don’t believe I can do that,” she said. “Now that’s going to be hard for me to do.”

As she pondered the question some more, “I’m afraid I’ll have to, or I’ll be in trouble.” She made clear to the Herald she didn’t particularly like that question. But the next day — on the eve of tonight’s game — James was still pondering the question of which team she’ll pull for.

“She told me today she was still struggling with it,” Evans said Thursday.

James affectionately speaks of her great-grandson, a senior offensive line guard for Monterey.

“He’s the only one I haven’t gotten to see play, and I’ll have to root for him when he’s playing.” She emphasized the word “when.”

Then came grandson Kirk Evans, PHS Class of 1982, who played under Bulldog coach Greg Sherwood, and the exciting late 1990s when three grandsons John Shannon, Russell James and Ryan James, all of the Class of 2000, played under coaches Steve Parr and Marty McClintock. Then grandson Tyler James played, graduating in 2004.

“She thought all the coaches her boys had were good men, and helped with teaching them how to work together to be better men,” Evans said.

James said, over the decades she’s seen good Bulldog teams, and not-so-good ones.

“I’ve watched them all,” she said.

Friday night football, as James and Evans agreed, has been very much a part of their family life.

Evans recalls her brother Tommy’s final game.

“It was the worst snow storm in Plainview that ever was,” she remembers of that 1977 game.

Speaking of the weather, with frigid temperatures in the forecast tonight James wasn’t sure she’d be able to get out. If she gets sick, someone would have to stay with her, and she doesn’t want that to happen.